Paul Lawrie hosts Match Play event at Murcar

“I did not hole any putts that I had to hole to be fair and Chris did”.

“When I was younger I would probably feel the pressure and not play as well but with experience you realise this is what you are playing for and it’s fun”.

Former British Open champion Paul Lawrie advanced to the last 32 of the European Tour match-play event he is hosting in northern Scotland with a 5-and-4 victory over Romain Wattel on Thursday.

“It’s fantastic to beat anybody, but Paul being such a good player and being the host makes it a little bit extra special I guess”, Doak said. “If your name is on anything you want it to be right”, Lawrie said. “I can’t wait to get going”.

The 37-year-old Doak triumphed despite carding three bogeys and two double bogeys.

However, after losing the 16th and winning the 17th with a birdie to get back to all square, Lewis saw his approach to the last plug in a greenside bunker and Quesne’s par was good enough to take him into the last 32.

With the WGC Bridgestone being played next week in Ohio followed by the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits the following week the European Tour’s stars are either in or heading for the US to prepare for a demanding two weeks.

Howell’s compatriot Chris Wood was the first man into the third round when he completed his second 5&4 win of the week, the 27-year-old needing just two and a half hours to beat Spain’s Jorge Campillo.

The in-form Matt Fitzpatrick, who was second in the Omega European Masters on Sunday, thrashed Bradley Dredge 6&4, while former Ryder Cup player Edoardo Molinari defeated Sweden’s Magnus Carlsson 5&4.